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20151023017909A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Piper PA-32-260 · Bluemont, VA · October 23, 2015

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
October 23, 2015 · 15:30 local
Place
Bluemont, VA
Phase of flight
Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N43249
NTSB investigation
NTSBERA16LA022
Reported as
Piper PA-32-260
Reported engine
Lycoming 0-540 series
People aboard
2
Fatal injuries
0
Other injuries
0
Pilot’s certificates
Commercial pilot, private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours
3,200 total2,500 in this make and model35 in the last 90 days
N43249Registration cancelled Jun 29, 2016 · Piper PA-32-260S/N 32-7400042 · Built 1974Airframe modelPiper PA-32-260Engine modelLycoming 0-540 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

At approximately 1520 on oct 23, the aircraft departed from upperville, VA (2VG2) enroute belmar, NJ (kblm). While climbing through 4500 ft for 7500FT the pilot reported that there was a loud noise from the engine, followed by vibrations. There was a loss of oil pressure and then the engine stopped.

This was reported to the potomac TRACON, the pilot declared an emergency and was advised that the closest airport was leesburg (kjyo). However due to loss of power the aircraft was unable to land there, so the pilot began to look for a suitable place to make an emergency landing.

He observed an open field and proceeded in that direction. Due to a rapid descent and avoidance of power lines, when the aircraft landed, it?s right wing struck the ground first, the right landing gear broke off then the aircraft hit the ground and slid into a fence crashing through it and breaking off the right side wing. The aircraft then made a 90 degree turn to the right and struck another fence, where the left wing was embedding into a fence post.

Both the pilot and passenger were not injured from the crash.

As the FAA filed it

AT APPROXIMATELY 1520 ON OCT 23, THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED FROM UPPERVILLE, VA (2VG2) ENROUTE BELMAR, NJ (KBLM). WHILE CLIMBING THROUGH 4500 FT FOR 7500FT THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE FROM THE ENGINE, FOLLOWED BY VIBRATIONS. THERE WAS A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE AND THEN THE ENGINE STOPPED.

THIS WAS REPORTED TO THE POTOMAC TRACON, THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE CLOSEST AIRPORT WAS LEESBURG (KJYO). HOWEVER DUE TO LOSS OF POWER THE AIRCRAFT WAS UNABLE TO LAND THERE, SO THE PILOT BEGAN TO LOOK FOR A SUITABLE PLACE TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING.

HE OBSERVED AN OPEN FIELD AND PROCEEDED IN THAT DIRECTION. DUE TO A RAPID DESCENT AND AVOIDANCE OF POWER LINES, WHEN THE AIRCRAFT LANDED, IT?S RIGHT WING STRUCK THE GROUND FIRST, THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR BROKE OFF THEN THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE GROUND AND SLID INTO A FENCE CRASHING THROUGH IT AND BREAKING OFF THE RIGHT SIDE WING. THE AIRCRAFT THEN MADE A 90 DEGREE TURN TO THE RIGHT AND STRUCK ANOTHER FENCE, WHERE THE LEFT WING WAS EMBEDDING INTO A FENCE POST.

BOTH THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED FROM THE CRASH.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ERA16LA022Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBluemont, VAA total loss of engine power as a result of the separation of the No. 5 connecting rod for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.Oct 23, 2015 · Substantial damage